Adjustable stilts



April 29, 1969 F. W. MANN ADJUSTABLE STIL'IS Filed Feb. 20, 1967 FIG!FIG. 2

INVENTOR.

V M) WM United States Patent 3,441,272 ADJUSTABLE STILTS Frederick W.Mann, 222 E. Front St., Waterville, Kans. 65548 Filed Feb. 20, 1967,Ser. No. 622,013 Int. Cl. A63b 25/00 US. Cl. 27270.1 8 Claims ABSTRACTOF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to improvements in the use andconstruction of vertically adjustable stilts.

An object of this invention is to provide an inner support stilt memberenhoused by an outer vertically moveable stilt member to which ishinged; a biased, horizontally arcuated foot mount carrying a stilt lockand release mechanism to assure for positive locking engagement with theinner support stilt member.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide for manualadjustment of the foot mount biasing mechanism so as to bias the footmount either inwardly against the outer stilt support member with thelocking mechanism engaging the inner stilt support member forming arigid stilt or biasing the foot mount outwardly from the outer stiltmember extracting the lock and release mechanism from the inner supportstilt member and thus freeing the outer stilt member to move verticallyon the inner stilt member.

It will now become apparent another object of this invention is toprovide for a stilt which is locked, forming a rigid stilt which theuser, in use, unlocks for vertical movement; or the same stilt which isunlocked for vertical movement and the user, in use, locks to forma'rigid stilt.

A further object of the present invention is to provide the innersupport stilt member with vertically disposed through holes in one wallwhere by a portion of the wall immediately above and including materialforming the upper portion of the hole is depressed to form a verticallyextending incline terminating at the lower end thereof in the upperportion of the hole. This portion of the hole is recessed somewhat belowthe lower portion of the hole, thus forming a ledge like abutment toencounter the stilt lock and release mechanism.

Still another object of the invention is to provide for a pair of stiltswhich are interchangeable, with all parts performing the same functioninterchangeable between the stilts; thus simplifying manufacture.

Still additional objects, benefits, and advantages of this inventionwill become evident from a study of the following detailed descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation view of an adjustable stilt made inaccordance with the present invention with the foot mount biasedinwardly.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation, partly broken away, with the foot mountbiased outwardly.

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view taken along line 33 of FIGURE 2,showing the interior of the foot mount.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawing, where inlike numerals of reference indicate like 3,441,272 Patented Apr. 29,1969 parts through out the different views, numeral 1 indicates theouter stilt member which may be round, rectangular or of any suitablecross section.

Vertically moveable within the outer stilt member 1 is the inner supportstilt member 2. The inner stilt member is provided with a cup 3; theinner vertical walls of which frictionally engage the lower, outer wallsof the inner member 2. The upper walls of this cup extend above thesurface engaging resilient material of the shoe 19 so as to abut thelower end of the outer member and terminate the vertical movement of theinner member into the outer member.

A U shaped shim 17 is attached to the lower inner portion of the outerstilt member with the open end of the U facing the foot mount 5. Ushaped shims 18 and 1811 are attached to the upper end of the innerstilt member and are oriented as is shim 17. The outward verticalmovement of the inner stilt member is terminated by shim 18 abuttingshim 17. Shims 18 and 18a are so spaced apart so as to maintain strengthand stability of the stilt upon terminated outward vertical movement ofthe inner stilt member.

The inner stilt member is provided with a plurality of vertically spacedapart through holes 4 which receive stilt lock and release pin 10, anintegral component of foot mount 5. It will be noted holes 4 extend fromabove cup 3 to just below the U shaped shim 18 so as to provide that theinner stilt member may be locked at any desired height by the user. Italso will be noted the portion immediately above and including the upperhalf arc of holes 4 is recessed inwardly to provide for positive lockingand eliminate slippage of lock pin 10 as it engages hole 4.

Lock and release pin 10 is axially aligned, spring loaded and pivotallyadjustable within the foot mount 5. Spring loading of the lock andrelease pin is accomplished by compression spring 12 exerting inwardpressure against shoulder 13 of the lock pin. It will be noted that whenthe user places his Weight on the foot mount, arcing the foot mountinward, the horizontal movement of lock and release pin 10 may beterminated by the lock and release pin not aligning with hole 4; but,instead, abutting the face area of the inner stilt member between holes4. At this instant the lock and release pin has stopped and the footmount arcs on inwardly until it is terminated by abutting the outerstilt member; thus the compression spring, in combination with theretaining mechanism, loads the lock and release pin and drives it intohole 4 upon alignment. It will also be noted the insertion depth of lockand release pin 10 into holes 4 is predetermined and maintained byshoulder 13 of the lock and release pin abutting the inner portion ofthe lock and release pin retaining mechanism 11, which is attached tofoot mount 5. The inner hole of this retaining mechanism is verticallyelongated to provide for lock and release pin drift as the lock andrelease pin is inserted or extracted from hole 4. This necessity can beunderstood if you consider the arc scribed by the foot mount and thatscribed by the lock and release pin in sliding through aligning hole 2ain the wall of the outer stilt member. Lock and release pin 10, aspictured in FIGURE 1, has an upper extending portion 10a and an inwardextending portion 10b extending parallel to the foot mount.

Foot mount 5, as pictured in FIGURE 1, is biased inwardly by the biasingaction provided by leaf spring 14 exerting pressure to rock shaft 8which freely pivots in mount bracket 9 and is attached at its outer endsto foot mount arms 6 which in turn are attached to the foot mount. Thisinward biasing to the foot mount as pictured in FIGURE 1 as opposed tooutward biasing of the foot mount as pictured in FIGURE 2 isaccomplished by lower end portion 15a of thumb slide 15 maintainingoutward pressure to the lower end portion of leaf spring 14. Thumb slide15 is firictionally held in place as pictured in FIGURE 1 by stop 16a.

Outward biasing of the foot mount is accomplished by the thumb slidebeing in the position as pictured in FIG- URE 2. The upper end of thethumb slide 15 is now engaging the upper most portion of leaf spring 14ramping it outward, thus exerting bias to rock shaft 8 which in turnbiases the foot mount outward. The outward arc of the foot mount isterminated by stop 7.

It will be noted lock and release pin 10 will be maintained at anydesired point of rotation by the frictional engagement between the lockand release pin shoulder 19 and the inner, upright portion of the lockand release pin retaining mechanism 11.

The operation of this device will now be readily understood. Assumingthe foot mount 5 of a pair of stilts is biased as in FIGURE 1 of thedrawing and the lock and release pin 10 is rotated so that portion 10bis above the vfoot mount; the user grasps the outer stilt member 1 at acomfortable height and places his foot upon the foot mount under portion10b of the lock and release pin 10 and balances his self on the stilts.Upon becoming adept at the starting position and wishing to ascend theuser merely raises his foot upward from the foot mount; contactingportion 10b of the lock and release pin and arcing the foot mountoutward; extracting the lock and release pin 10 from the hole 4 of theinner member 2; unlocking the stilts and carrying the outer stilt member1 upward on the inner stilt member 2. Upon reaching a desired steppingheight the user again steps on the foot mount, which carries the lockand release pin which engages the inner stilt member; again locking thestilts. Repeated procedure of each stilt will ascend the user to theapex of the stilts. Upon wishing to walk at a desired height the usermust avoid arcing the foot mount outward. This is accomplished bymaintaining contact with the foot mount by raising the outer stiltmember with the hand when taking a step. Upon wishing to descend theuser raises his foot into portion 10b and forces the outer stilt memberdownward until a downward stepping descension is accomplished andhalting the outer stilt member with his hands; with his foot continuingdownward, the foot mount is reelased and allowed to bias inward; againlocking the stilts. Repeated procedure on each stilt will lower the userback to the starting position.

Now assuming the foot mount is biased outward as pictured in FIGURE 2and the lock and release pin 10 is rotated so portion 10b is at a lowerlevel than the foot mount and assuming the stilts are in the startingposition the user grasps the upper portion of each of the outer stiltmembers and places a foot on each foot mount; arcing the outwardlybiased foot mount inwardly; inserting the lock and release pin 10 intohole 4 of the inner stilt member; thus locking the stilts. Upon desiringto ascend the user merely lifts his foot high enough above the footmount to allow the biased foot mount to are outward; extracting the lockand release pin from the inner member; unlocking the stilts and raisingthe outer stilt member upward with his hand until a desired step inheight is reached; again steps down onto the foot mount, arcing theoutward biased foot mount inward; carrying the lock and reelase pin 10which engaged the inner member; again locking the stilts.

While this invention has been described with particular reference to theconstruction shown in the drawing and while various changes may be madein the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changesshall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as definedby the appended claims.

Having thus completely and fully described the invention, what is nowclaimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of theUnited States is:

1. In a device of this class constituting an outer stilt member and aninner support stilt member mounted for vertical movement relative to oneanother; a biased, horizontally arcuated foot mount; hinged to the lowerend of the outer stilt member; said foot mount carrying a stilt lock andrelease mechanism into and out of engagement with vertically spacedapart through holes in the upright wall of the inner support member;said foot mount biasing means being adjustable to bias the foot mounteither inwardly against the outer stilt member or outwardly from saidouter stilt member.

2. A vertically adjustable stilt constructed in accordance with claim 1wherein said foot mount is hinged to are perpendicular to said verticalstilt members.

3. A vertically adjustable stilt constructed in accordance with claim 1wherein the bias to the foot mount may be manually adjusted.

4. A vertically adjustable stilt constructed in accordance with claim 1wherein said stilt lock and release mechanism is axially aligned, springloaded, and pivotally adjustable within said foot mount.

5. A vertically adjustable stilt construction in accordance with claim 1wherein said stilt lock and release mechanism extends to a point outsideof said foot mount and extends parallel to a portion thereof.

6. A vertically adjustable stilt constructed in accordance with claim 1wherein said stilt lock and release mechanism may be rotated on saidfoot mount.

7. A vertically adjustable stilt constructed in accord ance with claim 1wherein said stilt lock and release mechanism is spring loaded relativeto said foot mount.

8. A vertically adjustable stilt constructed in accordance with claim 1wherein a portion of the Wall between said holes of said inner supportstilt member is depressed obliquely inward terminating in the upper halfare of each hole.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,708,030 4/ 1929 Petersen27270.2 2,057,013 10/1936 Curtis 27270.1 2,504,922 4/1950 Dowell 27270.12,837,335 6/1958 Koening 272-701 ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner.

RICHARD W. DIAZ, IR., Assistant Examiner.

